Designing Speed: Golden Compass for the Ferrari F12berlinetta Published on Iitaly.Org (

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Designing Speed: Golden Compass for the Ferrari F12berlinetta Published on Iitaly.Org ( Designing Speed: Golden Compass for The Ferrari F12berlinetta Published on iItaly.org (http://www.iitaly.org) Designing Speed: Golden Compass for The Ferrari F12berlinetta Giulia Madron (June 05, 2014) The Ferrari F12berlinetta has been awarded the Golden Compass, the most important design distinction established back in 1954. Accepting the award on behalf of Ferrari was Flavio Manzoni, Senior Vice President of Design of the automotive house of Maranello. Close your eyes and imagine something flaming red. Now add some yellow in... and a black horse... Get the picture? The image you have surely arrived at is an Italian icon, the legendary and inimitable Ferrari [2], the automotive house which is the very best of Made in Italy and all around the world in producing luxurious sporting cars. Since its birth, in 1939, Ferrari has been the most influent brand in its sector and not only made history because of its successes in the F1 races, but especially for its exclusive designs, which make the Ferrari cars to be the undisputed jewels within the global automotive industry. Among the unique models that marked history of Ferrari we recall the mythical Ferrari Testarossa, Page 1 of 2 Designing Speed: Golden Compass for The Ferrari F12berlinetta Published on iItaly.org (http://www.iitaly.org) Ferrari 250 GT Coupè, Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa and Ferrari 250 GTO. In 2012 another gem was produced by the automotive house of Maranello: the Ferrari F12berlinetta, its design has just been awarded the Golden Compass (“Compasso D’Oro [3]”), one of the oldest and most prestigious international design awards. The compasso d’Oro ADI award, was set-up in 1954 by Gio Ponti, and with time it has become the most important award in the field of design in Europe. Flavio Manzoni [4], Ferrari’s Senior Vice President of Design, received this important accolade on behalf of Ferrari [2]in the Officine Ansaldo exhibition hall in Milan. Manzoni replaced Donato Coco back in January 12, 2010 as the Ferrari design director. The first series production under his leadership was the Ferrari FF. At the Paris Motorshow he presented the 2010 Ferrari SA Aperta roadster. In 2012, at the Geneva Motorshow he introduced the Ferrari F12berlinetta, a successor to the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, and the very first Ferrari produced by Ferrari Centro Stile in collaboration with Pininfarina. In 2013, together with the Centro Stile of the Maranello Ferrari Design he designs an heir of Ferrari Enzo: LaFerrari. He is also responsible for the re-design of the aerodynamic Ferrari 458 Special. In 2011, Flavio Manzoni was inducted into the Hall of Fame of car design at the National Automobile Museum [5] in Turin, Italy. Yet again, Manzoni representing a company whose incessant technological research and its universally-acclaimed aesthetic excellence made the history of the automotive industry, steps on the pdium to receive a unique distincion inthefieldof design. According to the Association for Industrial Design [6] (ADI), the F12berlinetta was awarded the prize “for its flowing, dynamic forms that use innovative aerodynamic solutions in a true marriage of technology and aesthetics.” Designed by Ferrari’s Styling Centre in collaboration with Pininfarina [7], the F12berlinetta is the most powerful (740 hp), high-performance Ferrari road car ever built and epitomises the perfect balance between maximum aerodynamic efficiency and the elegant proportions typical of Ferrari’s front-engined V12 cars. Our sincere congratulations to Flavio Manzoni, Ferrari and yet another Made in Italy success. Source URL: http://www.iitaly.org/magazine/style/articles/article/designing-speed-golden-compass- ferrari-f12berlinetta Links [1] http://www.iitaly.org/files/38146ferrarif12berlinetta1401979137jpg [2] http://www.ferrari.com/Italian/Pages/Home.aspx [3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compasso_d'Oro [4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavio_Manzoni [5] http://www.museoauto.it/website/en [6] http://www.adi-design.org/homepage.html [7] http://www.pininfarina.it/en/homepage/homepage.htm Page 2 of 2.
Recommended publications
  • Ferrari Tribute to 1000 Miglia 2019
    Ferrari Tribute to 1000 Miglia 2019 CLASSIFICA DOPO LA TAPPA 1 POS NUM S 1ºCONDUTTORE NAZ 2ºCONDUTTORE NAZ SCUDERIA cc. ANNO R COEFF. PEN.CO PEN.TOT. PUNTI DISTACCO 1532 MOZZI Giordano I BIACCA Stefania I FERRARI 458 SPIDER 2012A 1.00 275 5624 2 590 FRASCINO Luigi I OLIVIERI Luca I FERRARI 812 SUPERFAST 2018B 1.00 1086 3952 1672 3 573 FERRARI Vincenzo I SANDRUCCI Andrea I FERRARI CALIFORNIA T 2017A 1.00 926 3868 1756 4 555 WEBER Ulrich D LAIS Walter D FERRARI 488 SPIDER 2015 A 1.00 1059 3646 1978 5 510 DE JONG Johan NL DE JONG Randolf NL FERRARI SUPERAMERICA 2005C 1.00 939 3626 1998 6 540 POPP Michael D RASCHYK Johann D FERRARI CALIFORNIA 30 2013A 1.00 964 3601 2023 7 552 KUONEN Oliver CH GUNTERN Romed CH FERRARI 458 SPECIALE A 2015C 1.00 50 1098 3579 2045 8 553 POSMA Per B POSMA Olav NL FERRARI F12 TDF 2015C 1.00 1472 3574 2050 9 550 BINDER Frank MC VAN ZUIJLEN Bastiaan F FERRARI CALIFORNIA T 2015A 1.00 1245 3522 2102 10 505 SCHUMACHER Josef D KELLER Hans D FERRARI 348 CHALLENGE 1990E 1.00 1136 3459 2165 11 519 MONTINI Sandro I CAPPONI Claudio I FERRARI F430 SCUDERIA 2009C 1.00 1232 3437 2187 12 509 ZANARDI Claudio I PELLEGRINELLI Massimo I FERRARI 360 CHALLENGE 2004C 1.00 25 999 3382 2242 13 521 CHEUNG Shu Wan HK LUI Pik Siu Athena HK FERRARI 599 GTO 2010B 1.00 1062 3372 2252 14 600 SCHENK Arno CH SCHENK Matthias CH FERRARI 812 SUPERFAST 2019B 1.00 1268 3246 2378 15596 MARAZZI Stefano I AMOROSO Alessandro I FERRARI 812 SUPERFAST 2018B 1.00 1298 3245 2379 16599 NICOLI Roberto I FESTA Diana Elettra I FERRARI 458 SPECIALE 2019C 1.00 1898
    [Show full text]
  • Ferrari Or Lamborghini Factory
    Real Luxury makes you to discover the beauty of Italy driving one of the latest model produced by Ferrari or Lamborghini factory. For us luxury means simply “An unforgettable experience“ Each travel is fully customized for Customer’s needs. Our purpose it’s to give top of service in terms of assistance, leisure and conciergerie activity. Real Luxury is a travel trough the best Italian scenario in terms of: gourmet, art, design, fashion, architecture and breathtaking landscape. Our staff speak perfect/fluent English-Russian-Portuguese-Spanish-Italian and will take care of refueling, cleaning and technical assistance of your Super Car. The tour director is an expert of Ferrari as well as Lamborghini, officially certified as sport driver instructor. He will explain to the guest how to drive the Ferrari, and physically will lead you among enchanting hills and never ending curves by his his powerful sport staff car, transporting separately your luggage. © www.real-luxury.com 1 DAY Chianti Ferrari Tour – © www.real-luxury.com ITINERARY Florence > San Gimignano > Siena > Castellina in Chianti > Greve in Chianti © www.real-luxury.com DISCOVERING CHIANTI by FERRARI Morning • 10.00 Meeting with our Real Luxury Tour Director at the Hotel The Tour Director, an expert officially certified sport driver istructor, will explain and show to the guest how to drive the Ferrari, managing the Formula 1 paddle-gear box. He will tell you all the Ferrari secrets, explaining differences between each model like (Ferrari 458 Speciale, Ferrari 458 Spider, Ferrari California, Ferrari FF and Ferrari F12 Berlinetta and giving informations about how to drive in sport mode with high safety level.
    [Show full text]
  • Grand Basel Show for Automotive Masterpieces Delivers Unforgettable First Impression
    Press Release Basel, September 9, 2018 Grand Basel show for automotive masterpieces delivers unforgettable first impression Grand Basel, the ultimate global show for automotive masterpieces, has closed the doors to its first fair in Basel and is celebrating the resounding success of its debut on the world stage. More than 12,000 people visited the show, including international connoisseurs, experts and collectors, as well as culture enthusiasts with a broad spectrum of passions. As an inaugural show that was designed to demonstrate the spectacular presentation of the Grand Basel show concept, approximately one fourth of the cars on display were officially available to buy. The show's exhibits were carefully selected to just 113 cars, spread over a total show space of 32,000 square metres. Exceptional cars travelled to the show from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, the UK, Italy. As well as showcasing exclusive and rare cars of the highest calibre, Grand Basel presented cultural highlights and several world premieres. The fascinating 'Linea Diamante' car by Gio Ponti was revealed by Prof. Paolo Tumminelli, leader of 'The Automobile by Ponti' project to make the 1:1- scale model a reality, 65 years after it was designed. Other global show debuts at Grand Basel included the Delta Integrale Futurista by Automobili Amos, a restored and reimagined version of the iconic Italian hot hatch using contemporary materials and technologies; and the 2020 Tesla Roadster, which was never presented in Europe before. Appearing for the first time at any public show anywhere in the world, the ex-Pablo Picasso Lincoln Continental was presented by Swiss artist and Grand Basel advisory board member, Sylvie Fleury.
    [Show full text]
  • Contributions by Valery Gergiev, Flavio Manzoni and Hani Rashid
    CONTRIBUTIONS BY VALERY GERGIEV, FLAVIO MANZONI AND HANI RASHID IDEA BOOKS PODGARIC 20 SKYSCRAPER 36 AIRPORT 48 DUBAI 60 OSSUARY ROME 70 MIROOGOJ 82 KOZARA 98 KLAICEVA 108 DOTRSCINA 114 PODHUM 122 BIG MOSQUE 1 BARLETTA 132 VRSAR 140 STUBICA 148 Dusan Džamonja, like the poets of the past, is a “public” sculptor. He has dedicated, without rhetoric, almost all his work to his country, to the heroes and to the victims of the Second World War. Džamonja, born in 1928, grew up in a dramatic period There seems, however, to be a basic duality, if not in his country’s history. Although he was too young to an actual contradiction, in Džamonja’ s work. He is a take an active part in the fighting, he was well aware “public” sculptor in his large memorial monuments, but of the extraordinary significance of those events. The his constant research and interest in the development Resistance in Yugoslavia was a national epic. After of new forms and experimental techniques are the war, the relentless battle which had been waged characteristic of the contemporary modern movement, against Nazism and Fascism developed into a social specifically of the avant-garde. In other words, who revolution which, fusing together the different ethnic is Džamonja? An official artist who, be it with great components of the country, turned Yugoslavia into a restraint, celebrates the glorious deeds of his native great European nation, both socially and culturally land and extols a revolutionary ideology, or an artist advanced. The Resistance and the Revolution had who, firmly convinced of the autonomy of art, examines one great popular hero: Tito.
    [Show full text]
  • Attorney General Balderas Sues Takata & 15 Automakers Over Dangerous Airbags
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: James Hallinan January 24, 2017 (505) 660-2216 Attorney General Balderas Sues Takata & 15 Automakers over Dangerous Airbags To date, known Takata airbag IR incidents have injured over 180 people and killed at least 11 in the United States alone Santa Fe, NM – Today, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced that he filed a lawsuit this week against Japanese airbag manufacturer Takata and 15 automakers over dangerous and defective airbags that function as fragmentation grenades. Hundreds of thousands of which were installed in cars sold or offered for sale in the State of New Mexico. The lawsuit was filed in the First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and it names Takata, Honda, Ford, Toyota, BMW, Mazda, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Nissan, FCA, Volkswagen, Audi, Ferrari, General Motors, Jaguar, and Mercedes-Benz. Attorney General Balderas alleges that the parties knew about, and misrepresented, the existence and extent of the defective airbags, and tried to conceal the defect until the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Congress exposed the full extent of the defective airbags. “In New Mexico, no child should ever be put in danger so international corporations can reap enormous profits,” Attorney General Balderas said. “New Mexico families’ health and safety have been put at dangerous risk by Takata and the automakers, and we will hold them accountable. Corporations who harm New Mexicans will pay for their actions no matter their size or location around the world.” Takata’s airbag systems are installed in millions of vehicles, including vehicles manufactured by the defendant automakers.
    [Show full text]
  • Route to Autostyle up to XVI Edition 2019 Index
    Berman 2020 Route to Autostyle up to XVI Edition 2019 Index Perchè Autostyle ......................................................................................................................... 7 Alcuni dei protagonisti, ora nel mondo dell’auto .......................................................... 8 Studenti che si sono distinti .................................................................................................. 9 La commissione di valutazione ........................................................................................... 10 I brand ............................................................................................................................................12 Il Maestro delle Cerimonie .....................................................................................................12 Auto&Design magazine ............................................................................................................13 Autostyle anno per anno .........................................................................................................14 Why Autostyle .............................................................................................................................. 7 Some key-players of the design competition now in the automotive world ..... 8 Students distincted over the years ..................................................................................... 9 Evaluation Committee ...........................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Il Conferimento Alla Ferrari Del Compasso D Oro, Uno Dei Più Antichi E Autorevoli Riconoscimenti in Ambito Internazionale
    n el - il to è or u- la e a r- il il ce ri- di n- p- io, ia- o- di Antonella Pellegrini to el to za La tecnologia i a a, l- e abbraccia il design . ti e Il conferimento alla Ferrari del Compasso dOro, uno dei più antichi e autorevoli riconoscimenti in gio ambito internazionale, diventa loccasione per incontrare Flavio Manzoni. Il senior vice president già ore del Design Ferrari, uno dei più noti e affermati designer automobilistici italiani, ci racconta come da- nasce un modello del cavallino rampante. La Casa di Maranello è oggi il simbolo del Made in Italy nel bia mondo, in grado di coniugare tecnologia, stile e tradizione ne. uo du- ntico e autorevole. Due agget- affermati designer automobilistici italiani, mo A tivi che vanno a identifi care un che con grande soddisfazione ritirava il pre- premio, un riconoscimento di im- mio per la progettazione della Ferrari F12 portanza mondiale, istituito nel 1954, che berlinetta, conferito con una motivazione nte nasce da un’idea di Gio Ponti: parliamo del che premia il connubio tra tecnica ed este- se- premio Compasso d’Oro ADI, che a quel tica: ‘Compasso d’Oro per la forma fi lante, or- tempo aveva lo scopo di mettere in evi- la cui aerodinamica ottimizza le prestazioni rie- denza il valore e la qualità dei prodotti del della vettura’. Una ulteriore conferma (se he design italiano, non ancora apprezzato nel mai ve ne fosse bisogno) di quanto la Ferrari i in mondo. Da allora in poi, molte cose sono sia affermata in tutto il globo, il Cavallino cambiate e il Made In Italy è diventato un rampante, simbolo della Ferrari Auto, è sta- cult praticamente in ogni Paese.
    [Show full text]
  • The Laferrari Unveiled at Geneva. an Iconic Name for a Car That Encompasses the Very Best of Prancing Horse Passion, Technology and Exclusivity
    The LaFerrari unveiled at Geneva. An iconic name for a car that encompasses the very best of Prancing Horse passion, technology and exclusivity On display the most comprehensive and acclaimed Ferrari range ever Maranello, 5th March 2013 – The wraps are finally off the LaFerrari. The Prancing Horse’s eagerly-anticipated limited-series special, of which just 499 will be built, made its world debut today at the Geneva International Motor Show. “We chose to call this model LaFerrari,” declared Ferrari’s President, Luca di Montezemolo, “because it is the maximum expression of what defines our company – excellence. Excellence in terms of technological innovation, performance, visionary styling and the sheer thrill of driving. Aimed at our collectors, this is a truly extraordinary car which encompasses advanced solutions that, in the future, will find their way onto the rest of the range, and it represents the benchmark for the entire automotive industry. LaFerrari is the finest expression of our company’s unique, unparalleled engineering and design know-how, including that acquired in Formula 1. For Ferrari the development of a limited-series special like the LaFerrari represents an opportunity to experiment with all the technological solutions that will later filter down onto the production cars. Of particular significance in this context is the introduction of the hybrid system which, making full use of the Scuderia Ferrari’s F1 KERS know- how, has resulted in a solution that exalts Ferrari’s fundamental values – performance and driving thrills. The hybrid technology used, known as HY-KERS, represents the perfect combination of maximum performance and lower emissions.
    [Show full text]
  • Provkörning Ferrari FF Vs Ferrari 458 Italia
    PROVKÖRNING FERRARI FF VS FERRARI 458 ITALIA 86 10/2012 1210_086-094_Prov_Ferrari_SV.indd 86 2012-04-24 13.40 Den ena har Isofix- fästen och baksäte. Den andra är en vilde, helt utan hämningar. Vilken är mest Ferrari? Text: Jan Harry Svendsen Foto: Thomas Larsen, Bilfoto.no. et distinkta ljudet av en boxer- motor närmar sig. Men det är varken ljudet från en boxersexa i en toktrimmad 911, eller en Dgammal italiensk Ferrari-boxertolva. För tillsammans med ljudet av den 8,8 liter stora Lycoming-motorn hörs det dova vinandet från två rotorblad. Över trädkro- norna kommer den blå Robinson-maski- nen in i mitt synfält, och i dörröppningen sitter fotografen Thomas Larsen. Han ser nöjd ut. Inte undra på, han har fått en trevlig resa över bergen från Sandefjords flygplats i den klara morgonluften – och nu spanar han ner på en Ferrari FF och en Ferrari 458 Italia … 10/2012 87 1210_086-094_Prov_Ferrari_SV.indd 87 2012-04-24 13.40 coupéer eller brutala mittmotormonster. FF Ferrari 458 Italia äter kurviga vägar som ingen annan bil. är varken eller, och därför är det på sin plats Kurvtagningsegenskaperna är inget annat än förbluffande. med en liten historielektion. För detta är inte första gången som Ferrari har presenterat en bil med en mycket ovanlig kaross. Redan på 60-talet kunde man på olika tävlingsbanor se en Ferrari 250 GT Drogo – eller ”Bread van” som den kallades. Bilen var utvecklad efter Kamms aerodynamiska teori, den var lägre, motorn hade flyttats längre bak och hade torrsumpsmörjning. Designen var signerad Giotto Bizzarrini, och bilen byggdes för att greve Giovanni Volpi ville ha en uppgrade- rad 250 GT – som kunde ta upp kampen med Ferraris egen 250 GTO.
    [Show full text]
  • Feisty Fiats! Trofeo Racer in Action
    ABARTH ● ALFA ROMEO ● FERRARI ● FIAT ● LANCIA ● MASERATI Issue 292 June 2020 £4.99 ALFASUD FEISTY FIATS! TROFEO RACER IN ACTION ALFA 6C GILCO GHIA 500 ZAGATO 131 ABARTH PININFARINA 90 years of design LOST LAMBORGHINIS I I Prototypes revealed I RALLIES & EVENTS Reports in detail FERRARI 225 S 1952 Vignale www.auto-italia.co.uk www.auto-italia.co.uk £80,000 FERRARI FF – SHOULD YOU TAKE THE PLUNGE? Alfa Romeo GTV Cup Alfa Romeo 147 V6 24V GTA 53,854 miles. One owner for the last 16 years. GTV Cup number 79. Full Just completed a major service including cambelts, service history and is completely original. Last serviced in September 2019 and water pump and brakes. 127,598 miles. had a new timing belt in September 2017. £11,995 Price: £9,490 * No 1 out of 180 Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Chrysler Jeep dealers for customer satisfaction in the UK. Oct-Dec 2018 * No 1 out of 165 Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Chrysler Jeep dealers for customer satisfaction in the UK. July-Sep 2018 * No 1 out of 165 Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Chrysler Jeep dealers for customer satisfaction in the UK. April–June 2018 * No 1 out of 165 Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Chrysler Jeep dealers for customer satisfaction in the UK. Jan-Mar 2018 WELCOME www.auto-italia.net Editor Chris Rees [email protected] Photographic Editor Michael Ward [email protected] Events Director Phil Ward [email protected] Editor at Large Peter Collins Contributors Peter Collins, Richard Heseltine, Andy Heywood, Martin Buckley, Peter Nunn, Simon Park, Steve Berry, Simon Charlesworth, Mike Rysiecki, Tim Pitt, Richard Dredge, Bryan McCarthy, and Phil Ward Art Editor Michael Ward Tel: 01462 811115 Back Issues Tel: 01462 811115 Subscriptions www.auto-italia.net [email protected] Managing Director Michael Ward General Manager Claire Prior [email protected] Advertisement Managers David Lerpiniere [email protected] Simon Hyland o here I sit, like millions of us, working from home.
    [Show full text]
  • Model Year 2016 Green Vehicle Guide (Limited to Releasable Data Submitted Earlier Than 01/13/2017)
    Model Year 2016 Green Vehicle Guide (Limited to releasable data submitted earlier than 01/13/2017) Cert City Hwy Cmb Model Displ Cyl Trans Drive Fuel Region Stnd Stnd Description Underhood ID Veh Class Pollution Air Score MPG MPG MPG Greenhouse Gas Score SmartWay ACURA ILX 2.4 4 AutoMan-8 2WD Gasoline FA B5 Federal Tier 2 Bin 5 GHNXV02.4XH3 small car 5 25 36 29 7 No ACURA ILX 2.4 4 AutoMan-8 2WD Gasoline CA L3ULEV125 California LEV-III ULEV125 GHNXV02.4XH3 small car 6 25 36 29 7 Yes ACURA MDX 3.5 6 SemiAuto-9 2WD Gasoline FA B5 Federal Tier 2 Bin 5 GHNXV03.5VA3 small SUV 5 19 27 22 5 No ACURA MDX 3.5 6 SemiAuto-9 2WD Gasoline FA B5 Federal Tier 2 Bin 5 GHNXV03.5VA3 small SUV 5 20 27 23 5 No ACURA MDX 3.5 6 SemiAuto-9 2WD Gasoline CA U2 California LEV-II ULEV GHNXV03.5VA3 small SUV 6 19 27 22 5 No ACURA MDX 3.5 6 SemiAuto-9 2WD Gasoline CA U2 California LEV-II ULEV GHNXV03.5VA3 small SUV 6 20 27 23 5 No ACURA MDX 3.5 6 SemiAuto-9 4WD Gasoline FA B5 Federal Tier 2 Bin 5 GHNXV03.5VA3 small SUV 5 18 26 21 5 No ACURA MDX 3.5 6 SemiAuto-9 4WD Gasoline FA B5 Federal Tier 2 Bin 5 GHNXV03.5VA3 small SUV 5 19 26 22 5 No ACURA MDX 3.5 6 SemiAuto-9 4WD Gasoline CA U2 California LEV-II ULEV GHNXV03.5VA3 small SUV 6 18 26 21 5 No ACURA MDX 3.5 6 SemiAuto-9 4WD Gasoline CA U2 California LEV-II ULEV GHNXV03.5VA3 small SUV 6 19 26 22 5 No ACURA RDX 3.5 6 SemiAuto-6 2WD Gasoline FA B5 Federal Tier 2 Bin 5 GHNXT03.5GV3 small SUV 5 20 29 23 5 No ACURA RDX 3.5 6 SemiAuto-6 2WD Gasoline CA U2 California LEV-II ULEV GHNXT03.5GV3 small SUV 6 20 29 23 5 No ACURA
    [Show full text]
  • 2012 Ferrari FF Ferrari Builds a Four-Wheel-Drive Wagon—And It's Just As Thrilling As Anything Else Prancing out of Maranello
    First Drive Review 2012 Ferrari FF Ferrari builds a four-wheel-drive wagon—and it's just as thrilling as anything else prancing out of Maranello. March 2011 BY MICHAEL AUSTIN As I’m driving through hairpin corners in the Dolomite Mountains of the South Tyrol region of Italy, the Ferrari FF’s two-door wagon body style is the last thing on my mind, which is interesting because it’s probably the first thing anyone else would notice about the latest four-seater from Maranello. Instead, my most pressing thought, besides not dropping a $300,000 GT car off a cliff, is the FF’s four-wheel-drive system, which has so tamed the 651-hp V-12 engine that a tail-out hero photo of a drifting FF requires serious commitment with the stability control fully switched off. When the back end finally does come around, though, it does so in a predictable, gentle manner. In sport mode, the sportiest of the five chassis settings accessible via the steering-wheel-mounted manettino knob, the back of the car hardly wiggles on dry pavement. But the first roadgoing Ferrari to put power to all four wheels doesn’t understeer like so many other four-wheel-drive sports cars. It’s actually mostly neutral through corners. Ferrari engineers repeatedly explained to us that the front wheels are used mostly for traction in bad weather and that power is otherwise shunted to the rear wheels as much as possible. Based on a cockpit display of power to the front wheels (we were told the display won’t be on customer cars), however, that’s not entirely true, as the system activates on almost every uphill corner if you request full power.
    [Show full text]